Did you know that there was a railroad through the middle of Cedar Grove Cemetery in Salem? Or that there was a railroad that ran parallel to P highway? How about the railroad that ran across the back of the pond at Bonebrake? Did you know that Dent County was once covered with miles and miles of railroad tracks?
When you think Salem, Missouri, few people think about trains. That would have been different 100 years ago. The St. Louis, Salem, and Little Rock Railroad was a massive undertaking that was halted after the line reached Salem. From the main Salem Branch, multiple railroads spurred covering hundreds of miles of Ozarks terrain. However, the Salem Branch of the Frisco is unique, because despite having hundreds of miles of track, there is only one way in and one way out. This created a perfect collection of forgotten railroads in our area.
The St. Louis, Salem, and Little Rock Railroad opened in 1875. The line split to the south from the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railroad at Cuba. The railroad was proposed to provide easier access to the various iron mines in the area, which held ore that was crucial to the expansion taking place in Missouri. The railroad also encouraged settlers to travel to the area to provide more labor for the iron mines. From the main Salem Branch, several railroads spurred. These roads carried iron ore and passengers across Dent County and beyond. However, after the collapse of Missouri’s iron industry, most of the lines have been forgotten in the woods around Salem.
Railroad enthusiasts refer to the Salem Branch and its spurs as one of the coolest railroad systems in the Midwest. In true Ozarks fashion, most history books include mention of the pure natural beauty along the Salem lines. The Sligo & Eastern Railroad, a spur of the Salem Branch, was known to be one of the wildest and most difficult tracks to navigate in Missouri, yet passengers who rode the train attested to its unmatched natural beauty along the line.
The main Salem Branch ran its last train from the charcoal plant in 1985. Train service into Salem had ended a few years prior. Within 2 days of the last train’s passage, the rails began being removed. Today, a mile section is a walking trail in town; and the rest of the railroad forgotten. The St. Louis, Salem, and Little Rock Railroad breathed its last breath in 2003, upon the closure of the Lead Belt Line by BNSF. The line never made it’s way to Little Rock, Arkansas as intended, likely spelling inevitable doom for the rail, as it made no connections to other rails. For the Salem Branch and its spurs, there was truly only one way in and one way out.
There is not a comprehensive map of the Salem Branch and its spurs, and that’s frustrating as a historian. Each map included different spurs, but there isn’t one that includes all of them. I realized that if I wanted all of the Salem spurs on one map, I’d have to do it myself. Today, I did! This map took 8 1/2 hours to complete. All of the known spurs of the Salem Branch are documented, as well as some of the iron mines they served. As I continue research, I plan to add to this map, including pictures, articles, and historic descriptions of important sites.
This took a TON of work, and I’m really proud of it. I want you to be able to use and appreciate it too! I’m making all of my research available to anyone who is interested to see it.
The Salem Branch has many stories to tell from its 128 year history. Join me and let’s learn together! Check out my map at the link below!
